Richard Hoagland: "Lavrov Plan" on Karabakh Peace not Backed by Conflicting Sides "as yet"
The peace plan proposed by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to end the land dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) has not yet received backing by any of the conflicting sides to make a settlement possible, according to Ambassador Richard Hoagland, a former United States co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group (Jan - Aug 2017).
In an interview with the Voice of America (VOA News), the diplomat noted that the package “differing only slightly” from the 2007 Madrid Principles calls for a universal referendum to attract also the displaced Azerbaijanis.
According to him, "the failure to fix specific timeframes" in the document has caused the two sides to avoid accepting the proposal. Meantime, he stressed the importance of mutual confidence as a necessary precondition to approving the plan.
Hoagland expressed his optimism also about the recent developments in the process, noting that the mutual dialogues and the relative calm along the frontline inspire positive hopes for a solution. He also praised the Armenian authorities’ tactics of heading towards progress with “little paces”.
The diplomat noted that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan - the first Armenian leader in two decades “who is not a native of Karabakh” - represents the new generation which trust him, expecting his new approaches to many spheres of public life, Tert.am reports.
Hoagland said he has absolutely no doubt about Pashinyan's serious stance on the issue, and his understanding of its complicated nature.
He also highlighted other regional stakeholders’ possible positions on the unsettled conflict. While the diplomat is confident that Iran pursues a real interest in a peaceful outcome, he questions Russia’s actual expectations. In his words, the Moscow authorities are afraid lest they should lose an important leverage of influence in the region.
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